noun, takes する, intransitive verb

  1. reducing the number of mouths one needs to feed (esp. by giving up children for adoption, apprenticeship, etc.).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
 
口減らし くちべらし
 
 
 
口べらし くちべらし

Contained Kanji Breakdown

mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)
dwindle, decrease, reduce
ゲン へ.る (5th, N2)
water, water radical (no. 85)
さんずい
all, same
カン ゲン みな (Kentei 1)
sign of the dog, 7-9PM, eleventh sign of Chinese zodiac
いぬ ジュツ (Kentei 1)
5th calendar sign
つちのえ ボ ボウ (Kentei Pre-1)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ えい よう (Kentei 1)
halberd, arms, festival car
ほこ カ ほこづくり (Kentei 1)
piling, ceremony radical (no. 56)
ヨク いぐるみ (Kentei 1)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)